TribLive stories, Page 377
Editorial: Monroeville Mall should be on someone’s shopping list
There’s a sale at Monroeville Mall. Everything must go. That’s not unusual in December. Sales are everywhere. But this time, it isn’t just sweaters and toys and candles with a price tag. The big “SALE” sign is on the 187-acre location itself as CBL Properties, the Tennessee owner of the...
The Stroller, Dec. 18, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Local food shuttle available...
Letter to the editor: Fracking falsehoods
It’s time that the commonwealth of Pennsylvania distances itself from fracking. Over the last decade, it’s become clear that the costs far outweigh the benefits. Alongside enormous environmental harm and obvious risks to health, there’s another big problem that isn’t being discussed: fracking just isn’t doing what it’s supposed to...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 17, 2024
High schools Basketball Boys Tuesday’s results Class 6A Section 1 North Hills 69, Butler 65 New Castle 54, Woodland Hills 49 Fox Chapel 66, Pine-Richland 47 Seneca Valley 47, North Allegheny 39 Section 2 Hempfield 70, Connellsville 50 Central Catholic 55, Mt. Lebanon 46 Upper St. Clair 62, Canon-McMillan 32...
High school roundup for Dec. 17, 2024: Baldwin boys beat Peters Township in battle of unbeatens
Nathan Wesling scored 22 points to lead Baldwin to a 56-49 victory over Peters Township in a battle of unbeaten teams in Section 3-5A boys basketball Tuesday night. Max Marzina, Matthew Schenk and Caden Cherico added 10 points apiece for the Highlanders (6-0, 1-0). Dylan Donovan scored 21 points for...
Reports: Greensburg Salem grad Brennan Marion to become Sacramento State head coach
Greensburg Salem graduate Brennan Marion is finalizing a deal to become the head coach at Sacramento State, according to multiple reports and first reported by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports. Marion was the offensive coordinator at UNLV for the last two seasons. Dan Mullen was hired after UNLV head coach Barry...
Late surge will lift 2024 auto sales to 5-year high, Cox projects
Analysts at Cox Automotive, an automotive services company, expect new vehicle sales in the United States for 2024 will come in at just over 15.8 million, beating a previous forecast and marking the best year since 2019. After a strong fourth quarter, automakers are expected to post sales of 15.85...
Rep. Victoria Spartz won’t caucus with GOP, narrowing Republican margin in House
A maverick Republican congresswoman says she won’t caucus with the party, narrowing the already slim GOP margin in the House of Representatives to as little as just one vote and potentially making it more difficult to enact President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda. Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Indiana, tweeted that she will focus...
Elias Wondimu: Not another revival of Band Aid’s ‘Do they know it’s Christmas?’
On Nov. 25, Band Aid released the “ultimate remix” of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” the rock charity single from 40 years ago that, in addition to whatever good it has done, also broadcasts a narrative that undermines an entire continent’s dignity and agency. The recording has raised millions for...
Evan Ramstad: Anger and debate over health care will continue after Thompson’s killer is sent away
The arrest in the slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was the first step to putting his killer behind bars, though it won’t end the power struggle in health care illuminated by public reaction afterward. Another wave of criticism rose against Minnesota- based UnitedHealthcare, the nation’s largest health insurer, and the...
Gallery: Photos from Dec. 17, 2024
Embark on a visual journey around the Western Pennsylvania region with TribLive’s latest collection of captivating images for Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. From the rustic landscapes of Western Pa. to diverse corners of the globe, experience the shared moments of humanity....
Israel sees signs of breakthrough in talks over ceasefire with Hamas
Israeli officials say a ceasefire in Gaza is a more realistic prospect than at any time in the past year, suggesting a long-awaited deal to free hostages and boost aid to the beleaguered territory could be close. A working group from Israel is in the Qatari capital of Doha this...
Letter to the editor: How to pay for services in Hempfield
The election is over, and the duly elected people in Hempfield have made it clear they want to grow the township. More parks and more people equal more traffic on roads, and more houses and buildings means the need for better public safety. So I do agree that at some...
Letter to the editor: Why don’t more schools test for radon?
Some of us will do anything to save a buck, even indirectly kill other people in the process. We let cancer kill about 500,000 Americans each year. Allow me to break this down to any hometown. A hometown is part of a school district, and the district is funded by...
Editorial: Pennsylvania should better regulate the products already available before legalizing more
Marijuana is legal in Pennsylvania. Kind of. Except not really. The twisting vines of what is and isn’t OK in the Keystone State have been growing like weeds since 2016. That was when the state legalized medical marijuana. It was broadly bipartisan. In a senate that has been solidly in...
The Stroller, Dec. 17, 2024: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Follow the Stroller on X at @VNDStroller. Monthly Breaking Bread dinner...
Letter to the editor: Ladies, get your gun permits
It appears that law enforcement has become more dangerous. I have witnessed Sheriff James Albert write a letter to the editor in order to release a thinly veiled political rant and weaponize his public office (“Keeping Westmoreland County safe,” Dec. 10, TribLive). His office has seen an increase in women...
Student news: A roundup of accolades
• Four Fox Chapel Area High School students placed at the annual Hampton Talbot Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament on Nov. 23. The team of juniors Maya Agarwal and Prachi Behal won fourth place in Parliamentary Debate, junior Priscila Hayetian was awarded fifth place in Informative Speaking, and junior Dylan...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Dec. 16, 2024
High schools Basketball Boys Monday’s results Class 6A Section 2 Imani Christian 73, Norwin 26 Class 4A Section 1 North Catholic 91, Freeport 59 Class 3A Section 2 McGuffey 62, Carlynton 26 Class 2A Section 4 South Side 58, Rochester 55 Nonsection Beaver County Christian 37, Pittsburgh Christian Academy 26...
High school roundup for Dec. 16, 2024: Top-ranked Shady Side Academy takes care of Avonworth
Karis Thomas scored 21 points to lead Trib HSSN Class 3A No. 1 Shady Side Academy to a 64-49 victory over No. 4 Avonworth in Section 2-3A girls basketball Monday night. Cassie Sauer followed with 16 points, Leah Buford added 14 and Makiyah Mitchell had 11 for the Bulldogs (6-0,...
Penn State lands transfer portal commitment from former USC WR Kyron Hudson
Drew Allar announced Monday morning that he’s expected to return for the 2025 season. And Monday night, Penn State secured a future target for Allar via the transfer portal. Kyron Hudson, a wide receiver from Southern Cal, verbally committed to Penn State. He announced his decision on social media on...
Biden commutes sentence for ex-McKees Rocks drug rehab founder who ran heroin ring
A Navy veteran who founded a McKees Rocks drug rehabilitation center but was later convicted of running a large-scale heroin ring was among those whose sentences were commuted by President Joe Biden last week. David Francis, who was 69 at the time of his sentencing, was ordered to serve 10...
New Kensington gun-shop thief pleads guilty in smash-and-grab heist
A man accused of burglarizing a New Kensington gun store in January pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court. Steyn Sarduy, 19, of New Kensington will be sentenced on March 17 by U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer on charges of conspiracy and theft of a firearm from a licensed...
‘Lethal threat’: Judge sends Munhall mom to prison in fentanyl death of son, 2
When Paige Hufnagel was a senior in high school, she tore her ACL and meniscus while playing as a varsity starter on the North Allegheny basketball team. Hufnagel was prescribed opioids to cope with pain caused by the career-ending injury. But those same painkillers led to addiction and a downward...
RFK Jr. meets GOP senators to launch confirmation bid for health secretaryVideo
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was set to start meeting Republican senators Monday as the vaccine skeptic launches his contentious confirmation bid for health secretary. President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial Cabinet nominee headed to Capitol Hill for the first of more than a dozen planned meetings with GOP senators as he addresses...
